Aeroplane.



B. l. BURACZEWSKI.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I` 1915.

l 3L 5 l ,862., Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

3 SHEETS4SHEET l.

B. l. BURACZEWSKI.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1915- Patented Aug. 31, 1915,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B. l. BURAGZEWSKI.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1915.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

entrain estaras entrenar onirica.

BRONISLAW I. BURACZEWSKI, F HAMMOND, INBIAN'A.

.AEROPLANE Application filed April 7, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, BRONISLAW l. BURA- CZEWsKr, subject of `the Czar of Russia, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerov planes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and4 useful improvements in aeroplanes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a motor-driven aeroplane having a forward propeller adjustably arranged sov as to vary the power thereof in changing the speed of the device.

A further object of the invention is to providev an aeroplane with forwardly and upwardly acting propellers and oppositely arranged flapping wings, the said wings and propellersbeing motor driven.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an aeroplaneprovided with a motor and power connections from the same to a forwardly positioned propeller having adjustable blades, means whereby these powerconnections may be controlled from the drivers seat, oppositely arranged flapping wings and an elevating propeller above the top of the device, a rearwardly positioned rudder and a forwardly positioned steering runner also controlled from the seat of the operator.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like-designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the entire device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device with the elevating propeller removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same with parts removed taken on the line Ill-IH of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the forward propeller enlarged and with the blades partially broken away. Fig. 5 is a central lon-` Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

seriai No. 19,689.

rear runners 13 and a centrally positioned forward runner 14.

A basket or platform 15 is provided for supporting the driver of the aeroplane, while a motor 16 of any desired form is mounted substantially centrally of the aeroplane upon cross-rods 17 carried by the frame. A steering wheel '18 is arranged at a convenient point for grasping by the driver, the same having a post 19 terminating in a gear 20 which is in constant mesh with a gear 21 of the brace 22-of the forward steering runner 14.

An elevating propeller 23 is mounted above the aeroplane being positioned at the upper end of a revoluble shaft 24 journaled in cross-members 25 of the frame and having a gear 26 at its lower end in constant mesh with a similar gear 27 of the driven shaft 28.

The motor 16 is provided with a driving shaft 29 having a clutch member 30 operable by the hand lever 31 and whereby the revolving of a stub shaft 32 is controlled. The shaft 28 is positioned adjacent an upper stub shaft 33 and a clutch 34 is arranged between the stub shaft 33 and the-shaft 28, this clutch being controlled by the lever 35. Similar sprocket wheels 36 are arranged upon the two stub shafts 32 and 33 and a sprocket chain 37 is arranged over the said sprocket wheels.

Sustaining planes 38 in the form of Wings are arranged at opposite sides of the frame 10 being hinged thereto as at 39, while coil springs 40 are connected between the upper sides of the said wings and the upper side bars 41 of the frame for normally resiliently positioning the wings in their outstretched separated positions as best shown in Fig. 3.

A transverse shaft 42 is journaled in the frame 10 and is provided with a pinion 43 which is in constant mesh with a similar pinion 44 attached to an extension 45 of the hereinbefore described stub shaft 32. rlfhe said shaft 42 has oppositely arranged cranks 46 therein to which substantially vertically arranged pitmen 47 are connected by means of links 48. The wings 38 are slightly curved as herein shown and are provided with operating levers 49. at their. inner ends It will thus be seen that the driver by closing the lower clutch 30 allows the power of the motor to be communicated to the lower' stub shaft 32, thereby driving the extension pinion 44 and the transverse shaft 42 for reciprocating the pitmen 47 and producing van up and down hinging swinging movement of the side wings 38. Upon closing the upper clutch 34 by means of the lever 35, the power of the motor will also be communicated to the shaft 28 and whereby the elevating propeller 23 will be revolved. The lever 31 may be shifted to stop the movement of both the side wings and the elevating propeller, while the lever 35 only controls the said propeller and only at times when the wings 38 are being actuated.

A steering rudder 52 is pivoted centrally to the frame 10 by means of a rod 53 and is provided with a controlling cord 54 running over opposite 'pulleys 55 which are arranged upon the frame convenient to one of the operators. The cord 54 is also secured around a drum 56 centrally arranged between the said pulleys 55, and a crank 57 is provided for the said drum whereby the cord may be drawn in either direction required in the steering operation. Y

A forwardly positioned propeller having a plurality of blades 7 9 is arranged for imparting a forward movement to the aeroplane and is provided with a tubular shaft 58horizontally j ournaled through a bearing 60 centrally positioned in the forward bow 12 and a similar bearing 61 in a vertical brace 62 of the frame 10. rlhe inner end of the shaft 58 is provided with a gear 63 over which a sprocket chain 64 is positioned and this chain is operatively connected to a clutch collar 65. A coperating collar 66 is adapted for clutching engagement with the said collar 65 by means of an operating lever 67, the member 66 having operative connection with the forwardly extending end 68 of the motor shaft. A head 69 is provided at the outer end of the tubular shaft 58 and has mounting arms 70 of the propeller blades 79 radially journaled therein, and beneath a disk or cover plate 71 as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. A shaft 72 freely extends axially through the tubular shaft 58 and is connected by means of pivoted links 73 with cranks 74 arranged at the inner adjacent ends of the blade arms menace 70. A lever 7 5 is pivoted to a bracket 7 6 of the frame and has a fork 77 at its free end for spanning the annular collar 78 at the inner end of the shaft 72. By this arrangement of the forward propeller, it will be seen that the blades may be forcibly revolved by means of the motor 16 as controlled by the lever 67, while the lever may be actuated for moving the controlling shaft 72 which will turn the cranks 74 and thus differently position the blades l7 9. A constant speed may be thus imparted to the tubular shaft 58 by the motor 16 and the pitch of the propeller accurately controlled by the lever 75 in effecting different inclinations and consequent operative surfaces to the blades 79.

The aeroplane may be propelled forwardly by the blades 79, while at the same time the motor may be employed for operating the side sustaining wings 38 and also elevating the propeller 23 if desired, while the course of the aeroplane through the air is directed by shifting the rear rudder 52 and upon the land by moving the forward runner 14.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be thel preferred embodiment thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without de parting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claim.

What I claim as new is ln a device of the kind described, the com bination with a nacelle, of flapping wings carried thereby to elevate the nacelle, a driving engine supported on the nacelle, a propeller positioned at one end of the nacelle, a driving shaft for said engine, a propeller shaft for said propeller, a sleeve revolubly mounted on said driving shaft, gearing connecting said sleeve and propeller shaft, a clutch arranged to lock the sleeve to the driving shaft, a shaft operatively connected to the flapping wings, -a clutch arranged to connect the last-mentioned shaft to the driving shaft, said last clutch including a sleeve member, an elevating propeller, a shaft operatively connected to said elevating propeller, a sleeve mounted on the last-mentioned shaft, gearing connecting the sleeve on the last-mentioned shaft with -the sleeve of the last-mentioned clutch mechanism, and a clutch for connecting the propeller driving shaft to the sleeve thereon.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRONISLAW I. BURACZEWSKI.

Witnesses:

PAUL B. LIPINsKI, BoLEsLAW I. BURACZEWSKI. 

